Convertible car.



B. c; HARLLBB.

CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1908.

914,270. Patented Mar.2,1909.

4 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 @Wi/hmmm@ i c/A A 3,6

E. G. HARLLEE. CONVERTIBLE om APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1903.

914,270.; Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2` rn: NaRms PETERS cc.. w'AsmNaroN. n. cA

ELIZABETH G. HARLLEE, OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

CONVERTIBLE CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March a, 190e.

Application filed May 6, 1908. Serial No. 431,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH O. HARL- LEE, citizen of the United States, residing at Raleigh, in the county of Wake and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for converting a day coach into a sleeping car.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means of the character described.

An ancillary object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture which is adapted to provide a seat or chair or in conjunction with other vif such articles, to form berths, the articles of furniture being convertible to be used in either capacity at pleasure.

Other ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved article of furniture adjusted for use as a chair; Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of two chairs arranged to form upper and lower berths, the back of one of the chairs being partially broken away to show a section; Fig. 4 is a part of a transverse section through a car having the furniture arranged as in Fig. 3, the section being taken through the furniture on the vertical center line of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view if a portion of a chair. Fig. 6 is a view of a portion of the back and arm of a chair showing the details of a device for closing the interval between the arm and back, and, Fig. 7 is a section of the front portion of the portion of the chair back which forms the upper berth, showing a modified means for supporting the curtain for the lower berth.

Referring to the drawings, each of the articles of Jfurniture comprises a base A, a seat B swiveled upon the base by any suitable means as the ball bearing 1, and a back C. The bases A are secured to the car floor D at suitable distances apart and preferably are arranged in longitudinal rows on the two sides of the car so that the arrangement, usual in parlor cars, of a row of seats along each side of the car, with an aisle between, is obtained.

In Fig. 4 a portion of the usual car roof E and one of the sides F is shown.

The seat portion B comprises a box like structure having the bottom 2, sides 3 and 4, and top 5, which box may be used for storage purposes'. The upper side of the top of the box is provided with a cushion 6. Hinged to the top of the box at 7 is a portion 8 which may be extended out from the side of the seat in forming a berth as will be hereinafter referred to. The portion 8 has cushions 9 and 10 upon its two sides as shown. Extending rearwardly from the seat portion is a bracket 11 which is adapted to steady and support the back O when the chair is adjusted as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The back comprises a box like portion having sides 12 and 13 which extend forwardly from the back or bottom 14. To the sides 12 and 13, at their upper and forward portions, a swinging portion 15, is secured y means of pivots 16. When vertical, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this swinging portion provides a back rest for the chair and is provided on its front face with a cushion 17. When it is in horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this swinging portion is adapted to form a portion of an upper berth. It will be seen that there is considerable clearance between the back 14 and the swinging portion 15, and in this clearance are arranged guides 18 and 19 within which slide weights as 20 each of which is connected by a cord, chain or other flexible connector 21, which passes over a pulley 22 with one end of the swinging portion 15, the weights referred to serving to counterbalance the weight of the swinging portion. At the top of the back is a lid 23 hinged at 24 so that it may occupy the horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when the articles of furniture are being used as chairs, or may be thrown into a vertical position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the articles of furniture are employed to form berths.

For the purpose of forming a partition between upper berths, there is hinged to the lid 23 a partition piece 50 which, when the article of furniture is adjusted for use as a chair, is folded down against the front of the back inside the cushion 17, the swinging portion 15 and the box within which it folds being recessed to receive the partition piece. To

ermit the swinging of the piece 50 into and out of folded position, the cushion 17 is hinged at 51 and may occupy the position as shown by full lines in Figs 1 and 2, or the upper portion may be swung into the position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 to per- Init the partition piece to be moved ontwardly.

tion is secured to the seat portion so that it may turn with relationA tborota. in other Words, it is hinged thereto, .the securing means also permitting the back portion toA have a movement of translation with relation toy tlio. seat portion.. The scouring' irisans shown for aooomplishiristhis` result. coni.- prisss. two links as 2.5.ar1d 26a-pon s aoli sida of tbs artiolo oi iurnitiira sach of the. liiilrs, having an arid. pivotod to tlio scat` portion and thelinl;r Zdliavrlg orlo.- end pitoted to, the back por-tion. Tho lirilr Z5 is alsoA nivoitod. to the back portion but this is aoooranlishad byY a. Pinard-slot oonrisotion, this being" shown as.v the s110132? and` the pin 28..

TQ provide, for tho. artfiolos ottura..r thorois hinged. to tbosid'o of oaoh seat. an portion which may oompriso vertical supports 29 3.0 hinged' at 31; and 3.2; to the seat, .the sapports boing connected at their Grids by a horizontal arm.- portioii.- 3.3- This; arm may bs turrisdA Clown out. of the Way. as: shown. irl Fig- 1;,.or may bs secured inraissd. position, as shown; iii. Figs. 3. arid 4.-... To; tbs back portions are hinged blools as 34 ot ap- Prorimatslr the sains Width as. the.. aria rortiorls 3;3.- Tbsdotailsof. tho.. .roforabletorm oigthese blocks is shown in Eig.. -,romwhich it Will bo.- sosn. that tbs blocks aro ferrand;` oi' shoatiriotal arid arsy at ons aridi pivotodi booths seat back. l? Wliilo at tho. other-end is a hooli-v` sliapad; projection atlante..dy to.A engage. in a, slot. 6.5.-ir1. tiro. arm portion 33..Wl,1sri.t.bslattsr israisorrl lliorpiirposof of; tbosofblocksis to.l

or Clotbcstrorit @coming-inserted and; no ssvv bly caught between the arm aart tho back... Hinged; to, tho front of thc slaat. portion oi;

cachot tho articlosot tiuiiiftiirails bracket..

3.5.. which may bo. swung outwardly ass-borra iriilis's 3. andtormay loofloldedt againsttlio front of tho seat. as. showiria Figs... L and 2.., Secured; between its.. sides to the.` bracket 35; by moans of; hinges 3,6; is a Cross piose- SZ which may bo. Inova-.oli into a horizont-al Rosi-- tion` across tho top of'v the braokst 35, as shown iii. Figs: 3.- anfl 4.1, it boing scoured in.

this position by a suitable. catch 38, crit;

borslsasadv from. the catch andV moved into a vsrtialposition alongside tbs.y bracket;

so that' they whole can. beswung, coinpactlyagainst. tba front oiztbosoat as sliowirin; Figs. l. and 2;* It will. boobssrtodftliatthoupper; part. off tbozsoat basan overhang-so that a. rsf cess isl provided for the reception. of the; bracket. and tliisfoross .picos 3.1.7l so`A that. neat. oompaot arrangement is soaurod- Thor braclrotwitb; its arosspieoo-.may ssrvogwhsan;

@standart as afoot: rest Oras.; a. seat-ttor @hilf` dran` when. the article of furniture emr.

ferred to..

` ployed as a chair or it may serve as a support pl'oyed'l i'n that capacity. In each article of furniture the baci; por-- the article oi furniture and near the upper end thereoil and also near the outside when the boX like portion of the back of the articles of furniture are arranged to form berths, iis` hinged one end of a foldable cura tain pole which may consist of sections 38, 89

and 40, one end of the section 4,0 being hinged to the back at 41; and the sections 38,

3.9, and 401 being hinged-1 together-. When tlie the swinging portion 15, the lid 23 being closed down as. shown in the iigure last relhen it isdesi'red to,f or1n berths thelidsZSare raised as. shownin Figs. 3, and

4 andthe curtain rods are raised into the posi-tion. as shown in thossiigurss, the eX- treineiends oi the rodsl abutting against each.` other and being secured in positionrby any the interior of the upper berth.

'Ehe upper` berth is formedy by moving two swin ino ortions 15 of; the articles oi furnis ture into, A orizontal, position as shown in Fig. 35,v their abutting ends being secured by moans of a spring catch. 43l and theyv are fur ther supported at their line of abutment bymeans.V or a` bracket 44;. hinged' to the side ofthe caig'sdthat it may be swungbeneath the berths or mayl be foldedy against the side oil `the oar out ot the way; As a. further sup.- prsvsrit. any Portion oi a porson s anatomy* pont forv the Swinging! portions,y when. forming These legs` hang down.

are in honizontal' positions to fior-rny berths, the

lowerendsfof thevljegs 4,5` entering sockets as. i46,in;tlie arm pieces-33 and are thereby sup-.- ported and; secured.A Secured; to the outeredges ofl the swingingfportions. 15'. are rods asl` 417;'A serving as curtain; poles. for the lower berth, these rods entering-the c learancefwiths .in the back of; the articles of furniture-when `thejswin ing portions are 'folded Within the Instead of therods.

same ass ownlinllig.- 2. 47 support-ingV thecurtains for the lower shownL in Eig 7 andin this. concavity may `be placedi buttons. as 61- for supporting the. curtains, the curtains. beingprovided. with;

button holes` or.` rings to.y adapt thomfor en. gageinent with the.v buttons 61 As. shown most clearly` in Eig 3 the por-v tions 8 are turned on their hinges soastofexs Ltzsnd; between tho scat portions ot. tho-Coon berths.,` the front edge may be concaved, as,

erating articles of furniture, to form the j lower berth and the abutting ends of the portions 8 are secured in position by any suitable means as a spring catch e8 and the brackets 35 with their cross piece 37 are thrown outwardly beneath the portions 8 to j further support them. l, The articles of furniture being adjusted as j shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2, they 'form swiveled j chairs of the character now universally emj i ployed in parlor cars. lf now it be desired to convert the car into a sleeping car the chairs are arranged in pairs, the chairs of a pair being so turned upon their swivels as to face each other as shown in Fig. 3. The backs of the chairs may then be translated bodily upward with relation to the seat portions until the bottoms of the swinging portions l5 clear the seats, when the portions 15 j may be swung upwardly upon their pivots 16 into a horizontal position as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. The counterweights relieve the effort necessary to raise the swinging portions and, these portions having been brought to the horizontal position they are' secured by a spring catch 43 and supported by a bracket eel which is swung out beneath them. Also the legs l5 are secured in position, the arms 33 having been raised into vertical position as shown. After the swinging portions have been swung out over the seat portions the backs are replaced in their brackets 11. rlhe lids 23 and partition pieces 50 at the top of the chair backs having been raised as shown in Figs. 3 and e and secured by any suitable means as a catch 62, the folded curtain poles are extended and their abutting ends are secured by a sleeve 42 and a curtain for concealing the u )per berth may be hung thereon in the usua manner. To form. the lower berth the portions 8 of the chair seats are extended between the two seat portions of the pairs of chairs, shown in Fig. 3, and secured by a spring catch e8, these portions S being further supported by the brackets 35 and their cross pieces 37 which are swung out beneath them. ln reeonverting the articles of furniture into chairs the operations just described are inversely performed as will be obvious. To fill in the opening between the chair box back and the chair scat which exists when the articles of furniture are in position to forni berths, cushions 6() may be placed as indicated in 3, the-se cushions being stored in the chair scat as shown in Fig. 2 when the articles of furniture in use chairs.

Vhat I claim is 1. In an article of furniture, the combination with a chair seat of a chair back comprising a swinging portion and counterb alancing weights for said swinging portion.

2. In an article of furniture, the combination with a base of a chair back swiveled thereon, and a chair seat, said chair back i comprising a swinging portion and counterbalancing weights therefor.

3. ln an article of furniture, the combination of a chair seat and a chair back comprising a curtain pole.

ll. ln an article of furniture, the combina tion of a chair seat and a chair back comprising a foldable curtain pole.

5. In an article of furniture, the combination with a chair seat of a chair back, comprising a swinging portion and means for supporting a curtain secured to said swinging portion.

6. In an article of furniture, the combination with a chair seat of a chair back, said chair seat comprising an extensible portion and a bracket foldable against the side of said seat and adapted to be swung beneath said extensible portion to support the same.

7. rEhe combination with a car, of articles of furniture upon the floor thereof, each of said articles of furniture comprising a chair seat and a chair back, said articles of furniture being arranged in pairs and the chair back of each comprising a swinging portion, said swinging portions being adapted to be moved into a horizontal position with their free ends adjacent, and a bracket foldable against the side of the car and adapted to extend beneath the abutting ends of said swinging portions.

8. ln an article of furniture, the combination with a chair seat of a chair back, said chair back comprising a swinging portion adapted to be swung from a vertical to a horizontal position over said seat, pivoted links securing said back to said seat, one of said links having a pin-and-slot connection, and a bracket for supporting said back secured to said seat.

9. The combination with one article of furniture of another article of furniture, each of said articles of furniture comprising a chair seat and a chair back, each of said chair backs comprising a swinging portion and a curtain ole, the said articles of furniture being adjustable so that the said swinging portions of said articles of furniture have their free ends adjacent when in the horizontal position and the ends of said curtain poles are adjacent when extended.

l0. In an article of furniture, the combination with a chair seat of a chair back, said chair seat comprising an extensible portion and a bracket foldable against the side of said seat and adapted to be swung beneath said extensible portion to support the same, said bracket comprising a cross piece movable into horizontal and vertical positions.

ln testimony whereof l have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELlZABETl-l C. HARLLEE.

Witnesses V. H. BoYDnN, L. W. McDOwELL. 

